Paolo Boi was a 16th Century Sicilian master who was born in Syracuse. In 1549 he defeated Pope Paul III in a chess match. The Pope offered to make him cardinal which he refused.

In 1575 he visited Spain and defeated Ruy Lopez de Segura and Ceron the two leading Spanish players. The King showered him with great rewards including an official appointment in Sicily that paid 500 crowns a year. On his way back to Italy he was captured by Algerian pirates and then sold as a slave to a Turk. He won his freedom by earning a fortune for his master playing chess.

He died in Naples in 1598 under suspicious circumstances, perhaps poisoned by jealous rivals.

myschkin: ... Paolo Boi played chess with Girone; producing some beautiful games, and finally coming off the winner of the conquering party. The general judgment was pronounced, that Paolo played much faster than Il Puttino, and with greater brilliancy of combination; but on the whole perhaps, less solid and sound; hence the Lords of the Court wonderfully desired to see them matched together. ...
http://mark_weeks.tripod.com/chw04c...

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